When I listen to "watashi wa", for example, sometimes I have the impression that the 'w' sounds like 'v' as in "vial" or "violence" in English (Similar to 'w' in the German Language). Nevertheless, I also have the impression of listening 'w' as in "wonderful" sometimes, so I'm confused. Do the Japanese use both sounds? How 'w' is pronounced?
Answer
There is no "w", except in "wa", so you only have to learn that. And it helps to see a Japanese MC on tv with a microphone and a constant toothy grin, while talking furiously. This is an important key, because it demonstrates that Japanese can be spoken without ever moving the lips sideways. So the beginning of the 'wa' syllable is basically done by opening your lips like a letterbox, with purely vertical movement.
In loanwords, the combinations ウィ, ウェ, and ウォ also occur, but again these can be made with the microphone and grin uninterrupted, simply moving the lips vertically. But what cannot occur is ウゥ: not only does it not make sense, since you would be replacing the end of a vowel with itself, but typically Japanese speakers find it essentially impossible to pronounce (e.g.) "Woolworths", which demands that the "w" represents a sideways opening of the lips (twice!)
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